Buying clothes for a new baby is one of the more enjoyable parts of getting ready — and one of the more reliable ways to end up with a lot of things that never get worn. Tiny button-back dresses. Elaborate knitwear. That gorgeous embroidered romper that requires approximately twelve snap fastenings to get on and off.

The trick is to think about what your baby will actually be doing at each stage, not just how old they'll be. Developmental stages drive clothing needs far more than size labels — and understanding them saves money, drawer space and a lot of frustrated early morning dressing attempts.

This wil help you to avoid impulse cute dress buys. only to realise, that the cute tiny button at the back of a dress — it’s not humanly possible to fasten it on your crawling, wriggly child. Because (a) she has no interest in getting dressed in the first place and (b) that cute little button in particular is only interesting if she can put it in her mouth.

Here's a stage-by-stage guide, with honest quantities and a note on what actually works.

Clothing for 0–3 months

Fragile, frequently changed, and deeply unpredictable

A newborn can go through 8–12 outfit changes a day. This is not an exaggeration. Between nappy leaks, spit-up and the general messiness of very early life, you need enough basics to manage without doing laundry every single day.

What works: Wrap bodies (Wickelbodys) that fasten at the side rather than going over the head — newborn necks are wobbly and their heads are large relative to their bodies, making over-the-head dressing more stressful than it needs to be. Zip-up sleepsuits with a two-way zip are far easier at 3am than ones with poppers. Simple pull-on trousers with a soft, wide waistband. A large muslin cloth is genuinely essential — on a practical note, if you have a boy, draping one below his tummy as soon as the nappy comes off prevents the classic fountain moment.

What to skip: Anything with fiddly fastenings between the legs, button-back designs, anything that needs to go carefully over the head, shoes.

Quantities (washing every 2–3 days): 6–8 bodysuits or onesies, 4–6 sleepsuits, 3–4 pairs of soft pull-on trousers, 4–6 bibs, 6–8 muslin cloths, 2–3 cardigans or lightweight jackets, 4–6 pairs of socks (they fall off constantly — buy more than you think you need).

Newborn vs 0–3 months sizing: Buy very little in newborn size. Many babies skip it entirely or grow out of it in 2–4 weeks. Concentrate on 0–3 months and keep tags on until needed.

Clothing for 3–6 months 

The wriggly phase

Things stabilise slightly — the frequency of outfit changes drops a little — but babies are now moving much more and getting interested in everything around them. Dressing still needs to be fast and simple.

What works: The same principle as before — minimum fastenings, soft pull-on trousers, simple bodies. Zip-up sleepsuits remain the most practical nightwear. Babies this age spend a lot of time on their tummies, so avoid anything with embellishments on the front that press into them during tummy time.

What to skip: Small fastenings, rough fabrics

Quantities (washing every 2–3 days): 5–7 bodysuits, 3–5 sleepsuits, 3–4 pairs of trousers or leggings, 4–6 bibs, 2–3 cardigans or layers.

Clothes for a 6–12 months old baby

On the move and significantly messier

Weaning starts somewhere in this window, which means a whole new category of stain. Babies are rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling to stand — sometimes all in the same afternoon. And they have strong opinions about being held still for dressing.

What works: Bodies paired with pull-on trousers or leggings remain the most practical combination. Large bibs for mealtimes — the kind that catch things. Soft-soled shoes or grippy socks for babies who are pulling to stand. Two-way zip sleepsuits still win at night. Up to around 12 months, all-in-ones still work beautifully and stay in place during active play.

What to skip: From around 6 months, fastenings that require your baby to cooperate become a source of daily frustration — shoulder snaps in particular. Most parents end up leaving the neck ones undone anyway. The simpler the better from here: pull-on everything where possible. Stiff denim. Anything with small embellishments that can come loose.

Quantities (washing every 2–3 days): 5–6 bodysuits or tops, 3–4 pairs of trousers or leggings, 3–4 sleepsuits, 5–6 large bibs, 4–5 pairs of socks, 1–2 soft-soled shoes or grippy socks for standing.

Clothing for toddlers - 12–24 months 

Catch me if you can

They walk. And when they want to get somewhere, they get there faster than seems physically possible. Nappy changes are still a fact of life, which means trousers that can come down quickly are worth their weight in gold. Shoulder snaps at this stage are essentially a declaration of war.

What works: T-shirts, dresses, shorts, soft-waist trousers and leggings — anything that can be pulled on and off without fastening. Dungarees and overalls can work well at this age but choose ones with easy fastenings at the sides rather than awkward button straps. Layers remain useful because toddlers overheat quickly.

What to skip: anything with a fiddly waistband fastening, stiff or restrictive fabrics.

Quantities (washing every 2–3 days): 5–6 tops or T-shirts, 4–5 pairs of trousers or leggings, 2–3 dresses or dungarees, 3–4 pairs of socks, 1–2 lightweight layers, 2–3 pairs of trousers easy enough for quick nappy changes.

Clothing for toddlers 2–3 years

I can do it myself (and oops, I did it again — potty training)

Independent dressing arrives, and so does potty training, often at the same time as nursery starts. The ability to get dressed and undressed independently matters enormously — both for your child's confidence and for the nursery staff who are managing 15 children at once.

What works: Clothing your child can genuinely put on and take off themselves. Elasticated waists without cords, stretchy fabrics, a comfortable roomy fit. Simple T-shirts and pull-on trousers. Nothing with fiddly fastenings that require adult help. For potty training specifically: trousers that can come down fast with no buttons or zips.

What to skip: Anything that requires help to fasten. Tight waistbands. Anything that makes an emergency trip to the toilet more complicated.

Quantities: 5–6 tops, 4–5 pairs of trousers or leggings, 5–7 pairs of underwear (potty training generates significant washing), 3–4 pairs of socks, 1–2 easy-fasten jackets.

Clothing for 3–4 years

I do it my way

Children this age often have strong opinions about what they wear — favourite colours, favourite characters, textures they like and strongly dislike. Some children become very particular about how things feel against their skin. The same practical rules still apply — easy to put on, no fiddly fastenings — but now aesthetics enter the picture too.

What works: Bright prints, interesting textures, soft fabrics. Big pockets. Anything that feels nice to touch — children this age are highly tactile and will reject things that don't feel right on their body. Clothing they've had a say in choosing tends to actually get worn.

What to skip: Anything scratchy, any fabric with a rough inside, anything with a waistband that digs in.

This is not a complete list — try to look at how your child develops and buy clothing that is comfortable for them and convenient for you to change.

A few general principles that apply across all stages:

• Wash before wearing. Always wash new clothes before putting them on a baby or young child, to remove manufacturing residues.
• Buy less than you think. Especially in the early months — babies grow fast and the temptation to overbuy is significant. It's much better to buy as you go.
• Quality over quantity. A smaller number of well-made pieces that wash well and hold their shape is more useful than a drawer full of things that pill after three washes.
• Organic cotton is worth it for babies. Babies' skin is thin, permeable and in constant contact with fabric. Organic cotton, free from pesticide residues and harsh chemical dyes, is genuinely a different experience for sensitive skin.

At Babbily, we design for exactly the stages where clothing tends to fail: easy to pull on and off independently, soft elasticated waistband without cords, reinforced knees for the crawling and climbing years, and a grow-along fit that means one pair of leggings or trousers can see your child through multiple sizes. Because the best clothing is the kind that just quietly works — every single day.